Women’s Month celebration kicks off in city

THE Dagupan City
government joined the nation in celebrating National Women’s Month this March,
following a kick-off program held in conjunction with the regular flag raising
ceremony at the city plaza on March 4.

Mayor Belen T. Fernandez,
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) City Director Melinda Buada,
Councilors Maybelyn Dela Cruz-Fernandez and Marvin Fabia and city department
heads led more than 300 government employees, barangay workers and members of
various women’s groups and non-government organizations attended the program
that formally launched PNP Dagupan’s
demonstration of self-defense strategies for women.

In the same occasion,
Gender and Development Focal Person Dr. Lydwina Balingit-Bernardo detailed the
updates and accomplishments of the city’s Gender and Development Focal Point
System (GFPS) for the past year.

She described how the
GFPS worked closely with the Sangguniang Panlungsod for the approval of two
ordinances in support of women and their rights, namely Ordinance No. 2146-2018
or the “Anti-Street Harassment Ordinance” and Ordinance No. 2143-2018 or the
“Gender and Development Code of Dagupan City”.

She also underscored the
importance of observing National Women’s Month in the city, especially with the
local government making strides in uplifting Dagupeño women.

“Women are usually
perceived to be weak and that often leads to discrimination in the workplace
and other areas. That is why we want to stop these kinds of misconceptions.
Here in Dagupan, our mayor is the perfect example of an empowered woman whose
leadership brought much progress and development to our city. And we want to
maintain that.” added Dr. Balingit-Bernardo.

Meanwhile, Fernandez
touched on common discriminations in society, which depicts women as weak and
vulnerable and urged those in attendance to learn more about women in history
so that the “cultural impressions of women will be changed.”

The mayor also detailed
the programs of the city government which catered to the women and mothers of
the city such as establishing Samahan ng mga Kababaihan sa Dagupan (SAKADA),
providing livelihood opportunities for solo parents as well as the construction
of a lying-in clinic which will be open 24/7 for birthing mothers.

The lying-in clinic is
set to be formally opened on March 14. It will also house machines for
diagnostic services such as X-Rays, electrocardiograms (ECG) and Ultrasound
which can be availed by Dagupeños for free.

The other activities
lined up in the city for Women’s Month Celebration include “Batik Ulopan Laban
sa Karahasan” amazing race on March 8; free pampering for 100 women on March
12; “Araw ng Mga Kababaihang Manggagawa ng Dagupan” on March 22; and skills
training for selected solo parents on March 26.

All government employees
have been encouraged to wear violet shirts every Friday to show their support
for women this March. (Verdelle De
Vera/CIO)